Enhanced Size Dependent Cellular Uptake of Particles using Electroporation

Author: Lily C. Cutler, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Contributor: Jordan A. Hoops, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Mentor: Dr. Prasoon Diwakar, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brenza, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Program of Biomedical Engineering

Lung cancer is the most common and fatal cancer in the world today. In 2018 alone, there were 2.1 million new cases of lung cancer worldwide. Despite advances in current treatment options, the five-year survival rate for these patients is still only 18%. New technologies are being explored to help combat lung cancer and raise the survival rate. One such technique is targeted drug delivery using polymeric micro- and nanoparticles. These particles can lead to enhanced therapeutic efficacy, which can be improved through cellular internalization using electroporation. Electroporation utilizes electrical currents to increase the permeability of the cell membrane, potentially increasing particle internalization and enhancing treatment efficacy. The goal of this work was to determine the particle size limit for enhanced uptake with the use of electroporation in human lung cancer cells.

The human epithelial lung cancer cell line, A549, was utilized in this experiment. Electroporation treatment of these cells was performed and followed by exposure to commercial fluorescently labelled polystyrene particles of sizes 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 micrometers. Cellular uptake was quantified using a combination of fluorescent and confocal microscopy. The knowledge gained through these experiments will be utilized in the design of drug loaded novel biodegradable polymeric particles for the treatment of lung cancer with electroporation.